Cup c. 1740

Curator: Here we have a porcelain cup manufactured by Meissen Porcelain Manufactory. Notice the hand-painted scene framed by gold leaf accents. It's part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It feels so delicate, a little world captured on something so small. I see a port scene... makes me wonder who held it, what their dreams were. Curator: The cup represents the height of porcelain production in Europe. Meissen held a monopoly for a time, shaping consumption and trade, especially among the elite. Editor: Thinking about it, maybe holding this connects you to that scene somehow. Like a tiny theatre for your hand. Curator: Exactly! It collapses distance, transforming global trade into a personal, tactile experience. Editor: These little objects have so much to say, even now. They still bring us together to share their story.